National Republican., 1887-05-04
The Pope on Total Abstinence,

Below will be found translation OF the
letter from the Pope to Bishop Ireland on
the subject of total abstinence. 1t will be
Of interest to all Catholics, and not only
to them, but to all persons wh) believe in
the principle Of total abstinence from all
alcoholic beverages, as giving the views OF
the head Of that branch OF the Christian
church which contains among It's followers
so large proportion of the Christians OF
the world:
To orr VENERABLE BROTHER, JOHN IRE
LAND, BISHOP OF Sr. PAUL, MTNN.-I Venerable
Brotlcr. Health and apostolic benedictlon. The
Admirable words of piety and charity by which
our faithful children in the United States labor
to promote, not only their own temporal aud
eternal welfare, but also that OF their fellow
citizens, and which you have recently related
to us give to us exceeding great consolation,
And above all we have rejoiced to learn with
what energy and zeal, by means of various ex.
celent associations, and especially throu III
the Catholic Total Abstinence Union, you CONF
bat the destructive vice Of intemperanoe. For
II is well known 10 us how ruinous, how de-
plorable is the injury both to hith aad to
morals that is TO be feared from intemperauce
in drink Nor can we sufficiently praise the
prelates of the United States, who recently In
The plenary council of Baltimore with wei Iht-
est words condemned this abuse, declaring 1t
to be perpetual incentive to sin and fruit
| ful root Of all evils, bringing the families of
the incorporate into the direst ruin, and
drawing numberless souls down to everlasting
| perdition, declaring, moreover, that the faith.
tul who yield 10 this vice Of intemperauce be.
| come thereby a scandal to non Catholics and a
| great hindrance to the propagation OF the true
| religion.
Hence we esteem worthy Of all commenia-
| tion the noble resolve of your plous assocla-
| tions, by which they pledge themselves to
abstain totally from every kind of intoxicating
| drink. Nor can 1t at all be doubted that this
determination is the proper and the truly
efiicacious remedy for this very great evil and
| that so much the more strongly will all be
| induced to put this bride upon appetite by
how much the greater are the dignity aud
influence OF those who give the example.
But greatest of all in this matter should
be the zeal of priests who, as they
are called to instruct the people In
the work of life and to mold then
to Christian morality, should also, ana above
ALL walk before them in the practice of virtue
Let pastors, therefore, do their best to drlv,
the plague of intemperance from the fold o
Christ by assiduous preaching and exhorta
tion. and to shine before all as models o
abstinence, that so many calamities will
which this vice threatens both church aut
state may, by their strenuous endeavors, b.
averted.
And we most earnestly beseech Almight
God that, in this important matter, He ma
graciously favor your desires, direct you
counsels, and assist your endeavors; and as
pledge of the divine protection, and as
testimony Of our paternal affection we mos
lovingly bestow upon you, venerable brother
and upon all our associates in the holy league
| the apostolic benediction.
Given at Rome, from st. Peters, this 9th da
Of March, in the year 1857, 1.-The tenth of on
pontifcate. LEO XIII, Pope.